Letters to the Editor

Detainees treated better than our schoolchildren

Ask me why I’m angry. I’m angry because you and I are footing the bill for “highly compliant” detainees at Camp 6 in Guantanamo Bay for a new soccer field.

These detainees are being treated better than our schoolchildren, in some cases. I’m angry because $750,000 of yours and my money is being spent on those who are awaiting trial for alleged crimes against MY country and I didn’t give the government my permission.

I’m angry because no one asked me if I’d rather see my money go toward our schools, or other worthwhile causes. They have taken music classes out of our school curriculum, our students have to pay if they want to participate in school sports, and spend their own money to pay for their uniform if they want to play their sport of choice.

And they tell me that we’re building a third recreation facility for these detainees to amuse themselves up to 20 hours a day? Have we gone entirely crazy? That is why I am angry.

Sallie T. McKelvey, Ramona

Thanks to those who made Town Hall celebration possible

On behalf of the Ramona Town Hall Board of Trustees, I would like to thank all those who attended, and the following for making the re-opening of the Town Hall west wing, and Celebration of the 118th anniversary of the dedication of the Town Hall possible on Sunday, Feb. 26: Aire-Co Heating and Cooling; Barona Casino; Big D Carpet Cleaning; Darrell and Jacque Beck; Dave Boyer; Charlotte’s Antiques; Claudia’s Interiors; Jan and Christy Clark; Ken and Sharon Davis; Colosseum Granite; Firehouse Glass; Bob and Pat Hailey; Hurricane Poway Fencing; Dawn Kirkman; Bob Krysak; Jeff Lehman, “Mr. Tuner;” Ruth Lepper; Phil and Clare Parker; Christine Prater “The Carpet Lady;” Darrell Ryker; The Ramona Rockettes; Don Russell; San Diego Krystal Klean; Jim and Sandee Salvatore; San Diego Gas & Electric; Dave Stewart; Pam and Andy Stubbs; and Donna Zick.

The trustees and I would also like to extend a very special thank you to artist Judy Nachazel for her magnificent gift, the portraits of the Town Hall’s original benefactors, Augustus and Martha Barnett. I would be remiss if I didn’t also acknowledge that the entire town owes a big thank you to Honorary Mayor Sharon Davis for her tremendous fundraising efforts over the past few years, without which we would still be struggling to re-open the west wing.

Woody Kirkman, President, R.T.H. Board of Trustees

Pressure bureaucrats to open Orosco, Cedar Creek Falls

I’m 83 and when I remember the best time of my life and the liberty and fun I had in my late teenage years (1947-49) in the San Bernardino area to that of my grandkids today—I’m appalled. Here we are in Ramona, surrounded by “public land,” which we are forbidden to enjoy.

For instance, back at that time my girlfriend and I would rent a side-by-side Luscombe for $4 per hour (flight time) and fly out to the “public land” at El Mirage dry lake to the hot rod time trials, which was a large event. When we returned we usually went target shooting on “public land” near the airport.

I had a 1935 Ford, gas was 20 cents a gallon. Drive-in movies 25 cents each. I paid half the $37 per year cost of car insurance with my father. We certainly weren’t rich, but I had a 70-cent-per-hour job at the local cemetery. The use of narcotics was unheard of—could it be our liberty to have fun was part of the reason?

I know you can’t bring back the good old days, but you sure can put pressure on the U.S. Forest Service bureaucrats to re-open Orosco Shooting Area and Cedar Creek Falls so that my grandkids can have a chance to have some good memories like I have of my teenage years when they get to be my age.

Ray A. Hollings, Ramona

Election systems reform needed

America’s election systems are in a word, pitiful, when you include billions in campaign money, when you have secretary of states and voting machines rigging elections, when the robber barons and their stooges pass laws to prevent people from voting such as voter picture ID laws, when 2 million on the voter rolls are dead and when millions more have moved without being removed from those rolls. One can only conclude that total reform of our election systems is a great idea.

Connie Frankowiak, Julian

Give it up for Town Hall

On Feb. 26, Ramona Town Hall celebrated threefold: An unveiling of the founding fathers Augustus and Martha Barnett portraits, the anniversary celebration of our rare 118-year-old Main Street building, and the opening of the museum room—West Wing.

Many people are responsible and many have worked hard to awaken our Main Street Sleeping Beauty and to eventually return her back to the people of Ramona. Here are the leaders in Ramona who have stepped forward, thus far, to donate, so please join me in thanking them for giving up precious time and talents for our treasured historical site. No, it’s not going to be a parking lot like one or two jarring rumors suggested. It’s going to be what it was intended, the centerpiece of our town for all citizens to take pride in and enjoy. If you would like to get involved, there are lots of jobs for you, not to mention writing a check to Ramona Town Hall, P.O. Box 1954, Ramona, CA 92065.

We need your help. We cannot do it all by ourselves. The Main Hall will cost about $2 million in renovations and, yes, Ramona can raise this! Teamwork makes the dream work, so please let us hear from you. We need you to show up and give it up for Town Hall. And besides, it’s tons of fun, not to mention extremely rewarding to help restore a national registry historical site.

A special thank you to all who attended our celebration on the 26th. It was great to see you there and to see our citizens supporting a community project. It is wonderful to see you care.

Thanks to all of you, and please call me so we can put your skill sets to use for Town Hall: 760 -788-2509